Premiered for the first time at Russia’s historic Bolshoi Theatre in 1877, choreographed by Marius Petipa (1818-1910), and featuring the music of Austrian composer Ludwig Minkus, the ballet tells an intricate and poignant love story set in India.
In Ankara, at the Opera Stage, Ayşem Sunal Savaşkurt directed “La Bayadere” after 20 years. The ADOB Orchestra was conducted by Tolga Atalay Ün for the three-act production, with costumes by Gülden Sayıl, lighting by Bülent Arslan, and rehearsal direction by Almula Özlem and Elif Gözde Fırat.
In the premiere, Sultan Erol portrayed “Nikiya,” İlhan Durgut as “Solor,” Özge Soykan as “Gamzatti,” Ervin Zagidullin as the “Golden Idol,” Taner Oğuzhan as the “High Brahman,” Hakan Odabaşı as “Rajah,” and Aralcan Kocabey as “Magdaveya Fakir.”
Tan Sağtürk, the General Director of the State Opera and Ballet, watched the performance alongside veteran choreographers Meriç Sümen and Merih Çimenciler.
The approximately 3-hour-long production, well-received by the audience, received minutes of standing ovation.
Considered among the masterpieces of classical ballet, “La Bayadere” will meet the audience again on February 8, 10, 22, and 29.
Ankara